Destinations
48 Hours in San Sebastian
This glamorous resort-city is European Capital of Culture 2016 (alongside Wroclaw in Poland). The honour boosts the style and appeal of San Sebastian, which has also become a gastronomic hub. In addition, the city known as Donostia in Basque gets its first air link from the UK next month, in the shape of flights from Luton…
— The Independent
The Perfect Day in Montauk
If you only have one day to experience the Hamptons, go light on pretension and heavy on nature—and cocktails—in Montauk…
— Condé Nast Traveler
Tours and Activities
The secret street food destination you've never heard of
On Macau’s Rua do Cunha, a pastry case looks onto the street, stacked with golden cookies pressed against the glass. Pressed against the other side, a line of travelers eye the curiosity for which the century-old Fong Kei vendor is known: Almond biscuits made with seasoned pork. Down the block, a smaller — but no less curious — line waits at Mok Yi Kei for ice cream and puddings made with golden, surely stinky, durian fruit…
— USA Today
Sweet vistas and music: What's not to like about the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad's concert train in Colorado?
Riding the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, concert-bound from Alamosa, Colo., to a mountain-girded amphitheater. What's not to like?…
— LA Times
1,200-foot amusement ride proposed for New York City's Penn Station
Catching a train at New York's crowded Penn Station is no thrill. But a development team has proposed a novel plan to overhaul the station: Build a 1,200-foot thrill ride on top of it and pay for renovations by charging $35 a ticket…
— Fox Travel News
Cruise
Finding the Best Deals on Cruises
Sometimes cruise shopping feels like car shopping. You know there’s a deal out there; you just have to find it. Cruise lines regularly run sales, and the current batch will reward procrastinators and shoulder-season sailors. If you can travel later this month, Adventure Life is offering 50 percent off its 10-day Arctic trip to North Spitsbergen in Norway departing June 29. Billed as an eco-volunteer cruise, the trip assigns 50 passengers to pick up ocean garbage in the remote Svalbard archipelago, while the other 50 take part in an excursion…
— New York Times
High Water Levels Impact June Rhine River Cruises
Due to heavy rainfall in southern Germany, portions of the Rhine River have closed to ship traffic, forcing river cruise lines to alter itineraries for this weekend and the coming week…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
Boeing readies high-flying celebration for 100th anniversary
When Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg heads to the Farnborough Airshow near London next month, he’ll tackle his usual tasks: trying to win new airplane orders and more aerospace work for the U.S. manufacturing giant. He will have an additional mission at this year’s show, where he’ll help lead the centennial celebration for the iconic U.S. aerospace giant launched by William Boeing in 1916…
— USA Today
For Cryin' Out Loud, Wear a Headset on the Plane!
You probably have a lot in common with Rick Brunson. Okay, maybe you’re not an information technology consultant, and maybe you don’t live in Barnesville, Ga. But you probably don’t like lots of noise — especially when it’s in an already noisy place, like the inside of an aircraft…
— The Huffington Post
Lodging
Faena Hotel recreates Golden Age of luxury in Miami's Mid-Beach
From Hollywood glamour to eye-popping art, the Faena Hotel kick-starts a new Golden Age in the 'hood…
— Globe and Mail
10 of the best new affordable hotels in New York City
In an elegant brick building in Manhattan’s Murray Hill, this excellent budget option opened following the success of sister hotel, The Pod. It trumps the elder sibling – now renamed Pod 51 – as all its rooms are en suite and it has a fabulous brick-pillared rooftop bar serving tacos and a warm atmosphere amid fairylights and stunning views. The rooms, some with bunk beds, are called pods given their compact size and may not suit everyone. But with prices among the most competitive in Manhattan, budgeters will be happy. Other nice touches include free passes to customised group walking tours of the city, held four days a week by guides Streetwise New York…
— The Guardian
A hotel room in the Eiffel Tower?
Seven million people visit the Eiffel Tower every year, but now a handful of those visitors will get to sleep in the iconic structure for the very first time…
— BBC Travel
Other and Odd
4 Ways Millennials Are Changing The Face Of Travel
In today’s digital age, travel is not viewed as a luxury but instead a necessity. With pictures of exotic destinations and adventurous excursions flooding the social feeds of Millennials, it’s no surprise that travel has become a top priority for this generation. In fact, Millennials are 23 percent more likely to travel abroad than their older counterparts. They are also willing to budget more for trips, with Millennials on track to spend $1.4 trillion on travel each year by 2020. Given these figures, it’s evident this generation has become essential to the travel industry. So, let’s take a look at the various ways Millennials are continuing to change the face of travel…
— The Huffington Post
Netflix Wants to Pay You to Travel and Photograph Food
Netflix is giving one lucky person the chance to get paid to do what most of us happily pay for. Namely, fly around the world and Instagram food. Might be time to up your Instagram game…
— Travel Leisure
Today in History
West Virginia Becomes a State
"Voices from the mountains are loyal and true" - those were the words of President Abraham Lincoln on this day in 1863 when West Virginia seceded not from the Union, but from Virginia…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
5 tech tips to keep your agency productive
by John Frenaye Monday June 20, 2016
Being self-employed, as most of us are, has tremendous benefits. We make our own hours, we work with the people we like to work with, we have a lot of flexible time for family or personal commitments, we set our own schedules, etc. The list of perks is lengthy. Sometimes, however, self-employment comes with decided downsides.
As a business owner, it all rests on our shoulders. There is no manager dictating schedules. Often there are not co-workers present to pick up the slack when needed. When your productivity slides, there is no one but you to kick it back into shape. Thankfully, we live in a modern world that we probably never saw coming. There are a number of ways that technology can keep you on…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Reading Between the Lines
Become The Exception: Prospecting Preliminaries, Part 1
So you have decided to go into business. Congratulations! For the sake of an example, let’s say you have decided to start a travel agency.
You heard that business travel could supply a consistent flow of clients, so you want to go out and sign up a few good accounts. Most people in your position, I’m sorry to say, would hire an outside salesperson and say, “There are millions of companies out there who travel for business purposes and who need our services. Don’t come back without a bunch of new clients.”
This is a mistake. The deck is shuffled. Most people get so excited about their new venture they just jump in the water head-first and wonder what happened within a year or two. Let’s do…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Publishers Corner
Are you comfortable?
by Richard Earls Sunday June 19, 2016
Don't we all seek a little comfort? Don't we all crave some well-being, some peace of mind, some tranquility? Don't we want to be satisfied?
Well, yes. Maybe. But as I was writing, that last one threw me a curve. Bells went off and flags went up. Maybe it's the puritan work ethic boiling in my cauldron, but I'm not quite certain.
I don't know the answer precisely and I have a severely limited perspective, admittedly. But its my personal observation we are at our best when we are working hard, striving for a goal. Like St. Bernards, people are work animals. We are happiest with an appropriate amount of stress in our life, working towards goals, pushing our…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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One-to-One Interviews
Ann Chamberlin, President of the National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA)
Ann Chamberlin, the President of the National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA), is responsible for the overall operations of NACTA. This includes member and supplier sales, revenue management, meetings and events, and membership service. Ann leads the overall vision for NACTA and strengthens the company through strategic partnerships and membership growth to ensure NACTA remains the top membership choice for travel consultants.
Ann built her career over 12 years at Holland America Line in various sales capacities including Director of Premium Preferred/National Accounts before accepting the position of Vice President of North America Member Sales and Service for Virtuoso, where she worked for nine years including building their first ever field sales team.
Joining NACTA in January 2012…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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TRO and The Travel Institute Scholarship Program
TRO believes ongoing training is important to the health of the travel professional. Therefore, we have partnered with The Travel Institute to assist travel agents to earn their Certified Travel Associate designation. TRO will be awarding a $100 scholarship to at least one attendee of TRO webinars each webinar. If you want to be considered for the scholarship you need only to register here:
http://www.thetravelinstitute.com/troscholarship/
…and then attend TRO’s webinars. Winners will be selected and notified immediately after each webinar!
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